Sleeve-link



(No Model.)

T. W. F. .SMITTEN.

SLEEVE LINK. No. 486,904. Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

INVENTUR LMM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS \V. F. SMITTEN, BROOKLYN, YORK.

SLEEVE-LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,904, dated November29, 1892.

Application filed June 11, 1892. Serial No. 436,338- (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. F. SMITTEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new andusefullmprovementsinSleeve-Links,of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in sleeve buttons, or as ordinarilycalled, links and it consists, broadly stated, in a peculiarconstruction of the links or connecting devices between the two buttons,the characteristic feature of which is that the link is pro vided withan opening on one side, preferably near one of the ends, and also has asliding locking-plate adapted to move longitudinally along the link, andwhich engages at appropriate places with spring-like parts orprojections formed upon the link, whereby the locking-plates will beheld in certain definite positions.

In the drawings hereof, Figure 1 represents an elevation of one form ofmy invention, showing the parts in the position which they occupy whenin use during wear. Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts when the linkis open and in position to be engaged with the loose button. Fig. 3shows an edgewise View of the partsin other words, a view taken from thetop in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations of a modified form of myinvention, showing the parts in their locked and unlocked positions,respectively. Fig. 6 is a view of a modification of the link shown inFigs. 1 and 2. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively elevations of another formof my invention, showing the link closed and opened, respectively. Fig.9 shows still another form of the link in an open position.

The characteristic feature of my invention pertains to all of the formsillustrated by me and may be employed in others not shown, the variousforms illustrated possessing to a certain extent valuable featuresrelative to each other, and sometimes it is desirable to employ thesefeatures and sometimes not, depending upon the expense that the articlewill hear. I therefore illustrate a number of forms. The invention,however, running through them all is substantially the same.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A A are about its central interiorportion a plate-like part D, from which is cut a spring E, which has aset somewhat diverging from the plane of the major portion of thisplate.

F is the sliding and locking plate. It is made doublet-hat is to say, inthe form of a casing, which incloses the link 0 and is adapted to slideupon the link.

G is a projecting portion of the plate D, formedby cutting the recess ordetent H into the edge of the plate.

I and J' are two openings or holes made in the casing F. The opening Jis made simply that the thumb-nail may enter it, so that it may be movedmore easily from one end to the other. The opening I may also be usedfor the same purpose, but it also serves an additional function-that isto say, the projection G moves out into that opening when the plate F isin its locked position, as shown in Fig. 1. The projection may be madeon the other side of the link and enter the opening J. It will benoticed that the left-hand arc of the link, or rather the left-hand endof the link, acts as a spring, so that the projection G is carried outinto the opening I when they coincide in position.

The operation is as follows: To introduce the link into the cuff, thelocking-plate F is moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, which exposesthe open hook K. (See Fig. 2.) The link is then passed endwise throughthe buttonholes in the cuff and the second or loose button is hookedinto the hook and the locking-plate F is then slid to the right into theposition shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the projection G moves out into theopening I and prevents the locking-plate from sliding too far to theright or its return to the left, and also when in its right-handposition, as shown in Fig. 1, the spring E moves outwardly, beingrelieved from the confining action of the locking-plate and impingingagainst the left hand edge of the locking-plate, which prevents it frommoving back again unless considerable pressure is applied to it. In thisway the but- I form the means for confining the lockingplate in itslocked position upon the outer edge of the link adjacent to the openingtherein, as follows: The link is or may be made of wire and is providedwith the same hook-like part K, as shown in the other fig ures, and hassubstantially the slide F; but

at the end of the link L, opposite the hook K, I form anoutwardly-projecting part, which is nothing but a bend in the metal.This bend when the slide F is in position enters an opening I,which isthe same in function as the opening I in the slide shown in Figs. 1,2,and 3. It is obvious that the locking effect upon the slide issubstantially, not to say identically, the same as that in the othercase.

In Fig. 4 are shown two little projecting ear like parts M M. These Iordinarily leave projecting laterally when the openings are made in thesleeve, because they are of service during the sliding of the sleeve,acting as resistance against the ends of the finger and thumb. Theoperation of thisform is substantially the same as the one firstdescribed. The engagement of the projection at L upon the link O, withthe hole or opening I in the sliding sleeve, holds the sleeve againstbackward movement.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I show a modification of the form shown in Figs. 4and 5. In the lastna ned construction the wear of the left-hand buttonupon the link reduces, after considerable lapse of time, the thicknessof the metal at the bend. Consequently the stiffness of the spring isreduced and in course of time results in there being insufficientelasticity to properly engage the projectionsL with the hole or openingI. Consequently I prefer to make this form of my invention as shown inFigs. 7, 8, and 9-that is to say, I deflect the metal composing the linkfrom the ordinary link form and produce the bends N N in the middle,which abut against one another.

In Fig. 9 the bend is made all upon one side of the link and it abutsagainst the other side of the link,which is left straight. In this waythe spring portion of the link is that part which is between the bend Nand the outwardly-proj ecting end, where the projection L is made. Thispreserves the spring-tension uniform permanently.

In Fig. 6 I show a modification of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 thatis to say,instead of cutting the spring E from the plate-llke part D, Icut it from the sliding sleeve. In this figure the plate is lettered F.The link 0 and the spring is shown at 0, it being cut out from the uppercentral portion of the front side of the sliding sleeve, and it looksover the front edge of the plate D or enters a recess therein, and, aswill be obvious, serves the same purpose that the spring E does 111Figs. 1 and 2.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction shown, since itwill be quite obvious to those who are familiar with this art thatmodifications may be made therein and still the essentials of myinvention be employed.

I claim 1. The combination, in sleeve-links, of two buttons providedwith eyes, an elastic metallic link open at one side to produce a hook,a sleeve adapted to slide upon the link to close the opening, andlateral projections upon the link adapted to engage with the sleeve tohold it in position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in sleeve-links, of two buttons, each provided withan eye, an elastic metallic link open at one side to produce a hook andprovided with a lateral projection upon the free end which is oppositethe hook, said link being bent so that its two sides abut against eachother, and a sleeve adapted to slide upon the link and provided with anopenin g adapted to receive the said projection upon the link,substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 8th day of June, A. D. 1892.

THOMAS W. F. SMITTEN.

Witnesses: Y

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, J. E. HOFFMAN.

